It is remote by Tasmanian standards; the only road access is via the Gordon River Road from Maydena, 70 kilometres (43mi) away. Fuel can be purchased at the Lake Pedder Wilderness Lodge which also provides accommodation and meals.[citation needed]. The road is maintained by Hydro Tasmania.
History
Strathgordon was the company town for construction by the Hydro-Electric Commission (TAS) of hydroelectric structures in the area, including four dams and one power station, that resulted in damming of Lake Pedder and Lake Gordon. It was gazetted as a locality in 1968, and its post office opened on 16 July 1969. It was at its peak activity in 1972, with retail stores, a school, church, sports complex and indoor swimming pool.
Since the completion of the dams, it's mostly used by trout fishers and bushwalkers and is maintained by Hydro Tasmania.
Locality
It's rural locality in the local government area (LGA) of Derwent Valley. The 2021 census recorded a population of 8 for the state suburb of Southwest, which includes Strathgordon.
It is on the road to the Gordon River Dam the most south westerly road in the south west of Tasmania.
Road infrastructure
Route B61 (Gordon River Road) runs through from south-east to south-west.
Climate
Strathgordon has a cold oceanic climate (Cfb) with cool summers and cold winters with crisp nights year round. Rainfall is extremely heavy year round, some of the heaviest in all of Australia. Strathgordon as well as being very wet is also very cloudy for most of the year; it is the cloudiest site in Australia, with only 1,478 sun hours and 16.3 clear days annually.
Snow is a common occurrence in the winter and spring months, and can be heavy in amount, while sleet and wet snow can occur in the summer. On average there are 12.7 snowy days annually.
The station commenced record in 1968 and ceased on 19 March 2021.
Climate data for Strathgordon Village (1968–2021); 322 m AMSL; 42.77° S, 146.05° E
↑"Strathgordon". Sydney Morning Herald. 10 January 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
↑"Tasmanian Road Route Codes"(PDF). Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & Environment. May 2017. Archived from the original(PDF) on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
